New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-18
THE ASSOCIATIONS YORK.

The most noteworthy scientific congress
| that has met OH this side of the Atlantic was
the Montreal session Of the British Assocla-
ton in 1884. A large body OF distinguished
representatives of In ish science were joined
by an equally large contingent from the
American Association, and meeting
of exceptional interest and importance was
the result. At the close of the session one
Of the learned presidents of sections declared
that its most important contribution 10 inc
worlds stock of knowledge was the announce
ment in a cable dispatch from Australia that
monotremes had been shown by actual o0scr-
walton to be oviparous. This was the verdict
OF an enthusiastic biologist who was strongly
preiudiced in favor of his own favorltc study,
but the presidents of the other seven sections
would probably have had difficulty in deSlg-
mating any result of the weeks labors IN
their departments that was equally novel and
original. Indeed the meetings OF the British
and American associations are seldom mem
orable for discoveries or even discussions OF
phenomenal importance. A few notable ad-
dresses have been made in England by such
leaders of the scientific world as Professor
Huxley and Professor Tyndal, but the oroI
nary proceedings there as here arc not charac-
terized by marked originality nor by results
of the first magnitude. The chief function
of such assemblies is to promote an intcr3
change of thought on current questions Of
scientific Investigation. The questions them
selves are in the main either technical or u
secondary Importance.
Judged by the highest standard OF original
investigation, the session Of the American
Association closed this week in this city has
been exceptionally successful. Professdf
Edison's paper on the Pyroma gnctic Dynamo
disclosed a new and economical system OF
producing electricity directly from fuel. This
paper as purely scientific event may be said
at least to equal In importance the practical
demonstration of tho long-mootcd theory that
monotrcmes are oviparous The fOur papers
read by naval and engineering experts on the
Nicaraguan Canal PROJECT were OF great p1ac-
tiCal importance and would alone have given
character to the session. The attendance OF
members has not run far below the maximum
figures recorded at the Philadelphia meeting
in 1884, and The work Of the sections has
been conducted with animation and zeal. In
Section A, which is the pride and glory Of
the British Association, unusually good re-
suits have been accomplished in the region
Of pure mathematics a quarter where the
American Association has always Jagged bc1
hind It's foreign rival. In biology, anthrop
oIogy, chemistry, mechanical engineering
and economic science, the work OF the AsSO-
citation has been markedly strong this year.
Professor Atwaters papers on Economies
In Food and Food Of Workingmcn' have
been the chief attraction in the popular sec
ton of economic science, but there have been
many other valuable contributions 10 scien-
tifc knowledge.
The number of papers reid at this session
las been as usual too large. 1t reaches $50,
and as many as twenty-five were held over
for another year. If onc-third OF the papers
read had been rejected there would have been
more leisure for Thorough discussion OF
weightier topics The section COMMITTEES,
are to be censuIcd this year as often before
for their excessive good-naturc In allowing
notorious cranks and one-Cycd hobby-ridcIs TO
trcspass upon the time of the Association.
They overload their section programmes pre-
cisely as overindulgent hanging committees
ovcrcrowd the walls of the Academy and
seriously interfere with adequate appreciation
Of what Is of genuine value. We hope for
practical reform in this respect; and, morc-
over, that the management will be able be-
fore many years TO devote separate
section to Geography, the interests of which
arc seriously neglected by the Association.
This is ono Of the most active and useful
sections Of the British Association, and under
proper direction would be equally popular here.